Scientists are to study how contagious the swine flu virus is and whether closing schools would help to halt the spread of illness.
One of the studies beginning this week will estimate how long people are contagious for and what the safe distance from infected patients may be to avoid transmission. Another project will assess whether isolated school closures can reduce the spread of the virus and will recommend when they might be appropriate.
The Government said that the studies, which are due to report back by the end of the year, would help to inform its response to a second wave of swine flu cases that is expected in the coming autumn.
Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer for England, said that it was nearly impossible to predict accurately when the expected surge in illness would arise but he ruled out a policy of widespread school closures.
The WHO has stated that anti-virals such as Tamiflu should not be given to healthy people who contract H1N1.
The drugs are currently offered to anyone in England with flu-like symptoms but the WHO suggest that the effects of taking medication may outweigh the benefits for otherwise healthy people.
Tamiflu or Relenza should, however, still be used as soon as possible on people with severe illness or whose condition is deteriorating, the WHO advises. Those in at-risk groups — such as pregnant women or people with an underlying medical condition such as diabetes — should also receive treatment promptly.
The Department of Health, which has stockpiled enough anti-virals to treat up to 80 per cent of the UK population, said that it would maintain a “safety-first” policy of offering everyone the medication.
Sir Liam Donaldson, CMO of England also suggests that only one person in ten who presented to their GP or to the National Flu service last week actually had the H1N1 virus.
FirstAssist is able to provide a service for employers to monitor the impact of swine flu on their employee’s sickness absence. Information on this service is available at: http://www.first-assist.com/shownews.aspx?ID=42